Hi guys,

I think the previous post regarding the subject has been forgotten a bit but what came forward from it was a lot of enthusiasm.

I really want to make the software happen but for that I need your help in getting the actual game itself and the hosting space required to run it.

If any of you would be interested in the software to play Star Wars Armada Solo then I would like to direct your attention here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flyingdutchie/website-for-various-tabletop-solo-ai-and-other-gam

Keep in mind that all the funding will be going to the expenses of making and running the software, not to my own wallet.
The software will be freely available to all!

Cheers,

Daan

Who on your team *besides yourself* has handled project funding before in a professional capacity?

Whats wrong with vassal?

This is almost like a solo computerized Heroes of the Alture Cluster (or however that thing is called for X-Wing) but allowing you to play in the comforts of your basement by yourself on your own tabletop.

Interesting idea!

Problems:

1) The AI probably isn't going to be keeping up to the current meme.

2) Vassal - (It's so easy to load up and play against someone)

Were I you, I think a more useful effort would be porting vassal to Android / iOS so it could be played there too.

@thecactusman17, "The team" is just me, this would be my first crowdfunding project. It's not funding in a professional capacity since there aren't any salaries or wages involved. It's funding to acquire the base requirements to get the software out there. SW Armada is not the only game involved and there is also webhosting needed.

@Ginkapo, This software would be easily operated on the phone or other mobile device.

@tgall, Good idea but porting someone else' software to a different OS is not exactly within my skill set. Also since I am doing this without financial compensation I wish to stick to a creative design made by myself.

In an older thread I made there was a lot of enthusiasm for the subject so I decided to add SW Armada to my project. I hope there are still a few of you out there that wish to support this project.

Cheers,

Daan

Ok Dutchman.

First step. Develop a business plan and estimate the capital funding required for this.

Second step. Investigate copyright rules, and check you wont be infringing.

Ginkapo, first of all, thank you for your concerns.

The business plan is quite simple, acquire the base game for SW Armada and SoG + the hosting space required to run the website properly. Take into account that Kickstarter has their fees as well I set 295 Euro as the goal. I wouldn't be selling any software, just collecting money to get the base game so I can write the software properly and release it into the public.
Based on your concerns I have sent FFG an email offering to take the project down if they see a problem with this.

This is fan-made stuff, the campaign is to help give me the means to write some free software for the community. There is not a company behind it trying to make a profit.

Cheers,

Daan

If FFG is cool with this it sounds pretty interesting. I'll take a look.

Thank you Sanguinary Dan, if they aren't cool with it, I'll take the project down and any backing would automatically be cancelled.

I would throw my hat in the ring and invest if,

First Disney signs off on the usage of Copyrighted material with the Star Wars name and other items,

Second EA signs off on it(as I hear they have the rights to any Star Wars Video Games from this point forward), (http://gamerant.com/electronic-arts-star-wars-license-disney/) as this is a Game on a Phone legally it would be a Video Game.

Third FFG signs off on it and gives you the rights to do so,

Fourth there is a business plan with solid dates and deadlines. ( have been burned by kickstarter before https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/482445197/unsung-story-tale-of-the-guardians this was to come out in 2015. After waiting 2 years for it and knowing it not going to happen for an another year to three if that, unless your Harebrained Schemes I am not giving to another KS without a sold plan and I still might not, Mighty Number 9 turned into mess, another with Tim Shaffer or Peter Mol)

Bring those to the table and you have my money as I want to play Armada on my phone against AI and others I would love it and I am dreaming about this again.

I mean it would be easier to create a program like Table Top Sim for IOS (or make armada for table top sim :-0) and allow for user created items to be placed into it, but understand as I am no copy right lawyer and my words means nothing, I would look into legally if you create something that allows others to input what ever they want into it if you could be sued for user generated content, if outside of the states you have to see that takes to happen and find out what IOS requirements are!!!

I know a lot of games and programs disappear from the istore thanks to not make making the cut for a new IOS version. It takes testers and programs just to keep it going one each new IOS Verison. I think I was listening to someone talking to total biscuit about this and it takes something like 100 hours of man power just to get the software updated to the newest IOS, which is why a lot of things disappear because the devp does not want to waste the time on it.

Hi Cubanboy,

So this is not technically an app, it's a website with javascript behind the UI. Works fine across different platforms and OS's.
It's for the player to get an output from their phones on what the "other player" would do. Not to play Armada on their phone. It's to use their phone while playing Armada against themselves (or co-op, whatever floats your boat).
So if FFG says they don't like it, I'll pull the plug on the SW Armada part.

It's a simple, fan made game aide. Not a conversions or copy or anything. If FFG doesn't like it, they can say no and I'll adjust the campaign.

If this takes off, hit me up: I have the logic for dice modification for a bunch of upgrades implemented in Python and I'd be happy to share what I've got.

@thecactusman17, "The team" is just me, this would be my first crowdfunding project. It's not funding in a professional capacity since there aren't any salaries or wages involved. It's funding to acquire the base requirements to get the software out there. SW Armada is not the only game involved and there is also webhosting needed.

Cheers,

Daan

Thank you for answering my question.

Your responses indicate that you don't have a long term plan for the software development, don't have anyone checking your math on fundraising needs, and you have none of the expensive licenses for the games you want to develop software for despite naming numerous expensive properties including Star Wars.

And we haven't even gotten to the hard stuff yet.

I'll pass. Best of luck to you.

@Ardaedhal, Thank you for the offer. My idea is to get the software up and running first and if you want to have a closer look into the code by that time let me know! Ofcourse if the campaign succeeds and the website becomes live the intention is to always have room for other peoples' game aides that need hosting

@thecactusman17, your wishes of luck are much appreciated. The reason of not having a long term plan is because this is not intended as some kind of business. It's fan made stuff for the community to enjoy and is intended to move in the direction the community wants it too. I am getting the feeling here that people are reading into this like I am starting some kind of company or releasing a paid product. There is plenty of Star Wars fan fiction or game mods out there that aim for the same thing as me. I wonder if they get similar levels of criticism their way or are attacked on the same points. It's just some light hearted fan made game aide..... I am only asking for money to buy the necessities (proceeds of which would go to FFG since I would be buying their product) to make it go live. I informed FFG about it and if they don't like I'll pull the plug on it.
So no business plans, no salaries, no company or whatever, just look at it as fan fiction.

That idea sounds really great!

Some questions because I am not fully sure wheather I understand the scope of the project:

1. If I want to use your AI, do I need anything else to play? Do I need to set up the entire game with the original FFG products (or Vassal) or would anything necessary be in the programm incl. a complete user interface?

2. Will the AI simply cover the core set or will it also cover all the expansions?

3. Will it cover the use of so called exhaust-upgrade cards (these are cards that can be only be used a limited amount and therefore a player has to make a decision every time he is able to use them)? Basicaly, an AI not covering these cards would not be a complete AI for the game.

4. Will the AI also make decisions about fleet design? That I would not recommend, because fleet design is really difficult and I cannot see an AI doing that job properly.

5. Would it be possible to download the AI and use it offline?

Anyway, I really like your effort and am quite probably in your project. I also consider it worthwihle allthough Vassal exists. Sometime I want to start a game, but finish it later. That is quite difficult with a human player. It is no problem with an AI. Thumbs up, man!

@thecactusman17, your wishes of luck are much appreciated. The reason of not having a long term plan is because this is not intended as some kind of business. It's fan made stuff for the community to enjoy and is intended to move in the direction the community wants it too. I am getting the feeling here that people are reading into this like I am starting some kind of company or releasing a paid product. There is plenty of Star Wars fan fiction or game mods out there that aim for the same thing as me. I wonder if they get similar levels of criticism their way or are attacked on the same points. It's just some light hearted fan made game aide..... I am only asking for money to buy the necessities (proceeds of which would go to FFG since I would be buying their product) to make it go live. I informed FFG about it and if they don't like I'll pull the plug on it.

So no business plans, no salaries, no company or whatever, just look at it as fan fiction.

The issue here is a little complex, but I believe I can break it down into two straightforward points:

1: Fanfiction is not done for monetary gain. The results of such products are used as demos for people going into professional work, or for non-profit work. This is doubly so with games that have expensive license requirements, such as Star Wars.

2: Licensing: I think £300 might get you a personal phone call telling you "absolutely not." It sure as hell won't get you acceptance.

3: If you really want to work on this in your spare time, tell me up front you want to create a vassal module or tabletop simulator extention for Armada. If you want top create a new program better at simulating these types of games, then tell me. Don't tell me you want to do all three and that it won't even cost a thousand dollars in time and effort because I actually have some semblance of an idea what that time and effort is worth.

@ Darth Veggie,

1. The program will be similar (but much more extensive) to what I have for WoG as you can see in the video. You need a webbrowser to acces it on a device of your choosing. Thats it, you set up the game as you would for any normal gaming session against other players.

2. If the campaign is successful it will cover the core set. If there would be funding left for expansions we can look at that. If it's possible to include expansion without buying them that would also work.

3. Not sure what this is since I haven't played the actual game (that is why I need funding to get the game) but that doesn't sound like something that is hard to code into it.

4. Fleet design would be something we can incorporate. Of course we start at the bottom and keep improving along the way if it seems inadequate to play with. This sounds like something that can be part of the "Scenario Generator".

5. At it's current state having it offline available would only be possible on desk/laptops not tablets or mobile phones. But who knows which direction this will go. Right now I am only looking at browser based software.

Thanks a lot for you good spirit Darth Veggie!

@thecactusman17

1. This is not monetary gain (didn't I say so a few times already?). The funds are for acquiring the game and get webhosting for the project. Not to line my pockets.

2. I contacted FFG, if they don't like it, I'll pull the plug. I also mentioned this before.

3. I don't want to create a vassal module. Since when are someones hobbies required to be directed in the way someone else is telling them to? That is quite the opposite of what creativity is in my opinion. I am not looking at making something that is necessary better at simulating or whatever. I am making something different, something I enjoy making. If it is going to be better, worse or simply different, we will see. If people like yourself have something against it then so be it......
And I am also not thinking in money/time or effort terms. It is a hobby. It's supposed to be fun and if people don't want to fund it, don't fund it. If people don't want to use it, don't use it.

I am sorry to hear you take this matter so personal. I am just a guy with a hobby, is that really so troubling for you?
FFG has been notified of my intentions, maybe you'll get what you want and they will shut me down.